Did you know that a dog’s sense of smell is on average 10,000 to 100,000 times superior to that of humans? Dogs have over 200 million scent receptors in their noses versus humans who have only 5 million. If you were to unfold and spread out the membranes from a dog’s nose, they would be larger than the dog itself.

Scientists have recently discovered that dogs can actually smell the presence of autism in children. A 2006 study found that dogs could also positively identify breast and lung cancer with 99 percent accuracy. It’s not clear whether it’s smell or some other sense that Seizure Alert dogs use to alert their humans of an oncoming epileptic seizure. Whatever the reason, we're glad our canine companions have such a keen sense of smell!

5K Fun Run/Walk

Some of our team members at Great Bridge Veterinary Hospital will be participating in the 5K Fun Run/Walk this Saturday at Bells Mill Park! We wish them the best of luck this weekend!

 

Technically known as Dermatitis, this is one of the stinkiest and itchiest conditions treated in veterinary dermatology, and it is one of the chief reasons a previously well-controlled allergic dog might suddenly increase itching. What to do? Our professionally trained staff can answer all your questions about skin conditions.

Does it seem like your dog is out of breath after a walk up the stairs? Or is your cat taking up a lot more space on the top of the couch than he used to? Overweight pets may seem like they are happy, but an extra five pounds can be harmful to their health. They can suffer from heart, lung and joint problems. We recommend a sensible diet along with regular exercise and a trip to our hospital to determine if and how much weight your pet needs to lose.

 

“Zephee” – Certified Therapy Dog

The primary objective of the Therapy Dog and han­dler is to provide comfort and companionship by sharing the dog with the patients in hospi­tals, nursing homes and other institutions and wherever else the Therapy Dog is needed. This is done in a way that increases emotional well-being, promotes healing, and improves the quality of life for the people being visited and the staff that cares for these people.  A Therapy Dog is a dog with an outstanding temperament, tolerates other animals and gets along with other dogs, wants to visit with people, and loves children. 

“Zephee” regularly visits Lake Taylor Transitional Care Hospital in Norfolk, VA to spend time with special needs children and adults in the rehabilitation center.  Also, she and her handler go to Cedar Road Elementary to read to the children and regularly attends other local community service events.

If you would like more information on Therapy Dogs, go to www.tdi-dog.org.

Is your pet starting to get a little grey around the muzzle? As your pet ages, it is important to maintain optimum health for their quality of life. Senior pets need more extensive risk assessment visitations. Teeth should be brushed daily, exercise routines are important and remember obesity is the number one health problem in older dogs. With routine blood and urine analysis and more frequent risk assessment exams, your pet will live a long and healthy life.

House Dust Mites and Pets

House dust mites (Dermatophagoides spp) exist throughout our environment. They are a common contributor to allergies in animals as well as humans.

Mites are commonly found in beds, carpet, sofas, pet bedding, and anywhere dust collects. The bedroom has been known to have the greatest concentration of mites. They prefer a house that is warm, unventilated and maintains a humidity level between 50-70%. They are sensitive to UV light and prefer darkness. Dust mites feed on dead skin cells of humans and animals as well as pollens, fungi and bacteria. 

Dust mites love pet dander too. Be sure to wash bedding, rugs, children's soft toys and your pet's bedding frequently to prevent House Dust Mites. 

You should also give your pets treats with, or supplements containing, omega fatty acids. This will cut down on pet dander by helping to keep their skin healthy.

Is your puppy getting pudgy? Does your terrier need to drop a few excess pounds?

Like many adults in the United States, an increasing number of pets are overweight or obese.

Alison Sweeney, the host of the popular television weight-loss reality show "The Biggest Loser," is using her experience in humans to focus on the problem in dogs with a new diet plan for canines.

And judging from a recent study, which showed 35 million canines in the U.S. are overweight, there should be no lack of canine clients.Sweeney decided to take on the problem in dogs when her veterinarian told her that her Boston Terrier needed to slim down.

"I realized that I had totally not been paying attention to my dog's health," she explained in an interview.
Sweeney is not alone. More than half the dogs in the United States are overweight, according the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, which was founded to combat the problem.

"It's enormously serious. The percentage of obese pets isn't known precisely, but it is surely very high and for the same reasons as obesity is high in humans: they eat more food that they can work off," said Professor Marion Nestle, of New York University, and the co-author of a book on pet nutrition.

"Obesity in pets causes the same problems as it does in humans. It increases the risk of heart disease, some cancers, type 2 diabetes and joint problems."

Sweeney said one of the primary reasons for overweight canines is that people feed their dogs leftovers, which is particularly fattening.

"Feeding a dog an ounce-sized (28.3 gram) piece of cheese, it's like me eating one and a half hamburgers," she explained. "That's a lot."

Five extra pounds on a medium-sized dog is the equivalent of nearly 20 pounds on an average size woman, according to Hill's Pet Nutrition, which produces the Science Diet Weight Loss System that combines pre-portioned meals with biscuits.

Two extra pounds (0.9) on a smaller breed, such as a Chihuahua, is the equivalent of nearly 60 pounds.
Nestle stressed the importance of portion control and exercise for pets.

"Everyone wants to fix the problem without having to change habits. Owners are responsible for feeding pets and need to feed them less, which isn't fun, or get them out moving more, which isn't always convenient," she said.

(Reporting by Bernd Debusmann Jr., editing by Patricia Reaney)

When you take your pet for a walk during the winter time, be sure to keep their feet in mind. To prevent frostbite, consider taking very short walks or buying your dog a pair of booties to protect their feet, and when you’re done with your walk, always wipe the sidewalk salt off the bottom of your pet’s feet, ingesting sidewalk salt can be very dangerous to your pet.

Is your pet constantly scratching, licking or shaking its head? These could be signs of an uncomfortable skin condition. Allergies, infections, and other skin problems are common and can really decrease your pet’s quality of life if not addressed. Our hospital offers dermatology appointments for your pet. Ask us about it at your pets next appointment.